Page 2 of The Innovator

C’est la vie.

I went from designing luxury apparel and accessories to working in an area in which I had zero experience. My stress level spiked on the first day of work; the anxiety subsided as I learned more about the municipality. There was nothing wrong with an administrative job. It was important to the commissioner, who handled many things people took for granted—water, sewer, trash, recycling, leaf pickup, snow removal, and so on. It was true that a city required a village to run it properly, and now I was a villager.

It’s temporary, Natalie. A means to an end.

The career one-eighty shifted my mentality from managing a fast-paced company to dealing with details that moved at a turtle’s pace.

I was a quick learner, and that saved my sanity and kept my true identity hidden. People knew me as Natalie Chapelle, the name on my resume that matched all my other documents: credit cards, banks, lease agreement, and driver’s license. Money could buy many things, and I took advantage of that. When I told my mom about my plan to go to Providence and investigate Dad’s property, Mom almost had a heart attack.

I understood her concern. No mother would want her child in danger. But I needed answers to why my dad was there. Did he have a second life hidden from his family? Though Mom was worried about me, I could see the disbelief and devastation in her eyes regarding the rumor surrounding my dad.

Had there been a second woman? Mom never spoke the thought out loud, but I knew. My luck with men had been anything but fortunate. The unknown was often worse than the facts. But I needed facts, and I’d do anything to get them. My family deserved closure.

The new residence and job gave me a reprieve that I didn’t expect. An ocean separated me from responsibilities that weighed heavily on my shoulders and a relationship that kept resurfacing even though it had ended a year ago. Providence was the new beginning I needed, but I didn’t share this with Mom, who had a lot to deal with already.

I had wanted a job at the Registry of Deeds, but there were no openings. So I submitted my resume to the DPW, which worked out well. My administrative position made me invisible, allowing me to maneuver around to get information. The city had records of everything, and yet I couldn’t find anything on The Prism. Why would Dad purchase an abandoned building? Why hadn’t he mentioned it to me and Mom?

I worried someone would find out the truth about me one day. Would I get arrested for ethical violations or for falsifying documents? I had no idea—I didn’t have time to worry about that.

I’d tried calling City Hall to request info on The Prism as a resident and not as an employee, but the clerk said there was none available. That should have been a glaring sign that the municipal system wasn’t working properly, but she didn’t care.

“Dinner at your place? Tonight?” Penelope giggled quietly from the other side of my cube. She was probably talking to her boyfriend, Zach. Ten years older than me, she had a cheerful personality that made her appear younger. Happiness brightened up a person’s character and face, making them look more youthful.

Was I happy?No.Stress didn’t make room for joy or happiness.

Penelope laughed again, and her conversation grew louder.

I cleared my throat and whispered, “Shhh. Sergeant Kennedy might head this way soon.”

At sixty-six years old, Dolores Kennedy had been working for the city for thirty years and believed in a strict and quiet working environment. She knew everyone and how the city functioned, and that gave her power.

“Gotta go now. Enjoy your lunch. I can’t wait to pinch your butt, babe.”

I smiled at her banter with her boyfriend. My ex-fiancé would appreciate that kind of playfulness, not just with me, but with many women. I’d seen videos of him on his other girlfriends’ social media platforms. That relationship had been one of my many mistakes from the beginning.

“Thanks.” Penelope leaned against the wall that separated my cubicle from hers. She had a lovely face with adorable freckles and curly brown hair.

“You’re welcome,” I said.

If Penelope got into trouble, Sergeant Kennedy would linger around here more often. That meant I couldn’t snoop around for my research. Plus, Penelope had been helpful in showing me the ropes when I first started, so we watched out for one another.

Everything takes time here. No need to rush because no one else is rushing.

That had been Penelope’s advice when she saw my urgent email demanding a status on a project. I had to get used to this slow pace that drove me crazy. However, I was playing a role here and needed to adapt. It was like putting on a unique set of attire to portray a specific mood or attitude. Clothes could conceal or reveal.

Right now, I was wearing khaki capris and a pink cotton shirt, casual and simple, with no makeup. I blended in well with my environment. I had to get a new wardrobe because most of my clothes were from my collection or designer brands. One designer dress cost more than the entire wardrobe I’d purchased at Target and TJ Maxx, which had amazing collections. Some designer brands weren’t worth the money, especially when the seams tore after one wash. Don’t get me started on that.

Quality was important to me. Like clothing, the quality in people mattered.

“Do you want to join me and Zach for dinner tonight?” Penelope asked.

“No, thanks. I’m tired and plan to head to bed early.” I almost said I didn’t want to interrupt her butt-pinching, but that would reveal I’d been listening to her conversation, which I hadn’t done on purpose. She sat on the other side of the wall and she could hear my conversations too.

“Boring.”

I shrugged. “That’s me.”

Boring was exactly the image I needed to portray. Any interest directed my way would cause a distraction. An unseen person was like a spirit that could go wherever she wanted.

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